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The Indian rupee ended 01 paisa higher on friday at 88.71 to the dollar, while it opened at 88.72 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was down 733.22 points or 0.90 percent at 80,426.46, and the Nifty was down 236.15 points or 0.95 percent at 24,654.70. About 912 shares advanced, 2828 shares declined, and 106 shares unchanged.read more :- Kharif crop crisis due to excessive rain

Excessive rains have impacted standing crops, threatening Kharif production.Excessive rains in the western and eastern parts of the country since mid-August have significantly damaged standing crops in many areas, and the record Kharif crop estimates for 2025-26 may need to be significantly cut. Due to cracks in fields in many areas, harvesting of Kharif crops has slowed, and Rabi sowing may be delayed.Although no accurate estimates of crop losses have yet been made, the damage has been most severe in Maharashtra, where nearly half of the cropped area has been affected by floods. Sources in the farming and trading communities in various regions indicate that production of paddy, soybean, pigeon pea, black gram, sugarcane, millet, and cotton may be affected.Furthermore, there are concerns of more rain in the coming days, with the Meteorological Department predicting heavy rains in Central Maharashtra, Marathwada, Telangana, and coastal Andhra Pradesh until September 30. A new low-pressure area is expected to form over the northern and adjoining central Bay of Bengal on Thursday.# Maharashtra and other states most affectedExcessive rainfall over the past week in Maharashtra's Marathwada and Vidarbha regions has affected crops on more than 7 million hectares of the state's total 14.4 million hectares of cultivated area. State Agriculture Minister Dattatreya Bharane said on Wednesday that crops in about 30 of the 36 districts affected by this month's rains have been affected, with significant damage. He said, "Crop damage surveys are underway on a war footing with the assistance of the revenue and agriculture departments."This comes as excessive rainfall severely impacted crops in Punjab and Rajasthan. Some crops in Karnataka have also been affected. If the rains continue, further problems will arise for crops.read more :- India to buy record cotton at weak prices

India set for record cotton procurement as prices stay weak India is gearing up for record cotton procurement from farmers for the second consecutive year. The government’s nodal agency, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), has procured 100 lakh bales of 170 kg during the current marketing season, which ends on September 30. Lower cotton prices in both domestic and global markets are expected to drive farmers to CCI procurement centres to secure better returns through the higher minimum support price (MSP) guaranteed by the government.Although cotton acreage in the country has declined for the 2025–26 season, other factors are likely to push government procurement even higher. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, cotton acreage stood at 109.90 lakh hectares as of last Friday, down from 112.76 lakh hectares a year ago. Sowing has been completed, so this is the final acreage figure. The area was 123.71 lakh hectares in 2023–24 and averaged 129.50 lakh hectares over the past five years.CCI is preparing to launch its annual procurement operations for seed cotton (kapas) under the MSP scheme for the 2025–26 season. The Ministry of Textiles confirmed that procurement will roll out in a phased manner beginning in October.The first phase will start on October 1 in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and parts of western Uttar Pradesh, where the harvest typically begins earliest. Procurement centres in these states are already being readied. In Punjab, some farmers have even started bringing cotton to mandis, and private trade is underway ahead of the official procurement schedule.Central states—Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat—will follow next, with operations expected to begin on October 15, coinciding with peak arrivals. These three states account for the largest share of India’s cotton acreage, and CCI has announced that an extensive network of procurement centres will be set up to ensure MSP coverage. The final phase will cover the southern states—Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu—where procurement is likely to begin around October 21.Officials from the Ministry of Textiles emphasised that procurement will be undertaken without any quantitative ceiling—CCI will buy as much kapas as farmers bring, provided market prices remain below MSP. If prices stay higher, the agency will restrict itself to commercial purchases.Record procurement is expected once again in the upcoming season. New arrivals in northern states have already pushed prices down by around 5–6 per cent over the past two weeks, with arrivals starting mid-September.Market sources noted that the government has allowed duty-free cotton imports until the end of December 2025. CCI and traders, however, are struggling to offload last season’s cotton due to large carryover stocks. Market estimates suggest that 62–65 lakh bales will remain as closing stock this season, most of which are with CCI. Clearing this inventory is necessary to free up warehouse space for the new crop.Traders believe there is little chance of price stability given sluggish consumption, especially after the imposition of 50 per cent US tariffs. Lower cotton prices in the open market are expected to force farmers to sell to CCI. The government has fixed the MSP for seed cotton (kapas) at ₹7,710 (Approx. $86.94) per quintal for 2025–26, up 8.27 per cent from last year’s MSP. Meanwhile, seed cotton is currently trading at ₹6,000–7,000 (Approx. $67.66-78.94) per quintal in north Indian markets as CCI’s purchase operations are yet to begin.read more :- Major cotton producing states of India

Maharashtra, Gujarat and more: Top cotton producing states in IndiaBased on provisional estimates for the 2024-25 cotton season from the Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption, India’s total cotton production stands at 294.25 lakh bales. Here’s a detailed look at the top five cotton-producing states:India continues to be the world’s second-largest producer and consumer of cotton, contributing nearly 24% of global cotton output, according to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Despite having the largest cotton acreage globally, India ranks 36th in productivity.The country cultivates all four major cotton species, G. Arboreum, G. Herbaceum (Asian cotton), G. Barbadense (Egyptian cotton), and G. Hirsutum (American Upland cotton) – across the Northern, Central, and Southern zones.Based on provisional estimates for the 2024-25 cotton season from the Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption, India’s total cotton production stands at 294.25 lakh bales. Here’s a detailed look at the top five cotton-producing states:1. Maharashtra – India’s Cotton PowerhouseMaharashtra leads with 89.09 lakh bales, up from 80.45 lakh bales last season (2023-24). With 40.86 lakh hectares under cultivation and a yield of 370.66 kg/ha, the state remains a key driver of India’s cotton industry.2. Gujarat – High Productivity HubGujarat follows with 71.34 lakh bales, slightly lower than 90.57 lakh bales last season. Its 23.92 lakh hectares deliver an impressive yield of 507.02 kg/ha, making the state one of the most productive cotton regions in India.3. Rajasthan – Strong Yield PerformerRajasthan recorded 18.45 lakh bales in 2024-25, down from 26.22 lakh bales the previous year. However, its yield of 500.24 kg/ha across 6.27 lakh hectares reflects strong efficiency and adoption of modern cotton farming practices. 4. Telangana – Steady Southern ContributorTelangana contributes 49.86 lakh bales, nearly unchanged from last season. Spread over 18.11 lakh hectares, the state maintains a healthy yield of 468.04 kg/ha, supporting the Southern cotton belt’s consistent output.5. Madhya Pradesh – Reliable Central Zone PlayerMadhya Pradesh rounds off the top five with 15.35 lakh bales grown over 5.37 lakh hectares, achieving a yield of 425.98 kg/ha. This ensures the Central Zone continues to play a vital role in India’s overall cotton production. India’s cotton sector remains a cornerstone of the global textile industry. While Maharashtra leads in total output, Gujarat and Rajasthan showcase high productivity per hectare. Continuous improvements in yield and farming practices are expected to strengthen India’s position as a global cotton leader in the coming years.

Rupee opens 05 paise down at 88.72 against dollarThe currency opened at 88.72 against the dollar after ending the previous session at 88.67.read more :- Rupee fell 05 paise to close at 88.67 per dollar

The Indian rupee on thursday lower 05 paise to close at 88.67 per dollar, while it opened at 88.62 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was down 555.95 points or 0.68 percent at 81,159.68, and the Nifty was down 166.05 points or 0.66 percent at 24,890.85. About 1405 shares advanced, 2586 shares declined, and 125 shares unchanged.read more :- Barwani: Rain and caterpillar wreak havoc on cotton, production drops from 12 to 3 quintals per acre

Madhya Pradesh: Cotton crop in Barwani suffers double blow, rain and pink bollworm infestation reduce production from 12 to 3 quintals per acreThe hardships of cotton farmers in Barwani district are steadily increasing. First, continuous rain and waterlogging damaged the crops, and now the pink bollworm infestation has dashed any remaining hopes. Farmers are deeply disappointed to see the wilting and decaying crops in the fields.According to farmer Bhagirath Patel, the continuous rain has flooded the fields, causing the cotton tassels (unripe fruits) to rot and turn black. He said that previously, cotton production was 10 to 12 quintals per acre, but this year it is expected to be barely 2 to 3 quintals.Meanwhile, Mahesh Dhangar, a farmer from Talun village, said that he had planted cotton on three and a half acres, but the natural disaster and pink bollworm destroyed the entire crop. He said, "There are three to four caterpillars in each cob, which has completely ruined the crop." The farmer explained that he has spent approximately one lakh rupees on three and a half acres, while the yield has been only 2 to 2.5 quintals per acre. He has demanded compensation from the government, considering this a natural disaster.Debt Burden and Import Duty BurdenFarmer Sanjay Yadav also reported that his entire four-acre crop was damaged by pink caterpillar. He said, "First, there was the rain, and now the pink caterpillar disease has ruined the crop. We had hoped to produce more than 10 quintals this time, but we haven't even got two." Describing their plight, farmers say that they take loans to grow crops, but sometimes disasters or diseases destroy the crop, making it difficult to repay the loans.Another major blow to farmers has been the reduced import duty on foreign cotton. They say that due to cheap imports, the price of cotton has fallen in the domestic market. Additionally, CCI procurement is delayed, making it difficult for farmers to store their produce.Cotton procurement has begun in the district's markets, but it will take another 8 to 15 days to harvest the crop from the fields. Farmers grappling with this double whammy are in deep financial crisis, and their anger is growing.read more :-Cotton prices below MSP, CCI intervention sought

Cotton being sold below MSP’, Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian seeks CCI interventionAddressing the media here, Khudian said against the MSP of ₹7,710 per quintal, farmers are receiving in the range of ₹5,600-5,800 a quintal in mandis.With the cotton crop being sold “below” the minimum support price (MSP) in the state, Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Wednesday sought the intervention of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to intervene in the market to ensure farmers get the right price for their crop.The minister said despite a 20% increase in area under cotton cultivation due to the Punjab government’s initiatives under the crop diversification drive, farmers are now facing despair due to the CCI’s conspicuous absence.Expressing concern over the Centre’s “failure” to fulfil its promise of MSP for cotton farmers, the minister questioned whether the crop is here. “The farmers are here. But where is the CCI?,” he asked.He said the state government’s 33% subsidy on hybrid cotton seeds and other proactive measures resulted in a significant 20% increase in cotton cultivation, from around 99,000 hectares in 2024 to 1.19 lakh hectares this year.He emphasised that farmers, who invested their savings and labour based on the MSP announced by the Centre, are now being forced into distress sales to meet financial needs. He urged the CCI to intervene in the market so that farmers get the right price for their crop.read more :-INR Opens Stronger by 07 Paise at 88.62

 Indian rupee opens 07 paise higher at 88.62/USD as Dollar Index easesIndian rupee opened higher at 88.62 per dollar on Thursday versus Wednesday's close of 88.69.read more :- INR Gains 06 Paise, Closes at 88.69 per Dollar

The Indian rupee on wednesday higher 06 paise to close at 88.69 per dollar, while it opened at 88.75 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was down 386.47 points or 0.47 percent at 81,715.63, and the Nifty was down 112.60 points or 0.45 percent at 25,056.90. About 1535 shares advanced, 2445 shares declined, and 143 shares unchanged.read more :- Cotton sown in 1.82 lakh hectares, survey started for support price purchase

Cotton has been sown on 1.82 lakh hectares in the district, and a production survey has begun, which will be used for procurement at the minimum support price.Upper Rajasthan: The Agriculture Department is conducting a survey to assess potential cotton production in Hanumangarh district. Field staff, including agricultural supervisors, have been asked to report on average yields per acre. The report will be ready this week. After this, potential production figures will be sent to the government. According to reports, American and Bt cotton have been sown on 1 lakh 82 thousand hectares this year.In many areas, excessive rainfall has caused some damage to crops. A thorough ground survey is being conducted to gather information on potential yields. Currently, market prices are low. CCI will begin government procurement from October 1. According to Agriculture Department officials, heavy rains also occurred in many areas in September, causing crop damage. Initially, the bonds formed rotted. This will reduce production and impact quality. Potential production will be accurately assessed once the survey report is available.Early harvested crops in the district have ripened and are ready for harvest. Arrivals of cotton have begun in the markets. Currently, the main markets in the district are receiving approximately 100 to 150 quintals, and the average market price is 6,500 to 7,000 rupees per quintal. Cotton cultivation in the district has been highest in the Hanumangarh, Sangaria, Pilibanga, and Rawatsar tehsils.In Tibbi tehsil, farmers have also sown paddy alongside cotton. The area under cotton cultivation in Nohar and Bhadra tehsils is very low. The department is focusing on the areas with the highest cultivation. Agricultural supervisors have been instructed to visit the fields and assess potential yields.The crops in the areas where farmers sowed early have ripened. Arrivals are also being received in the markets these days. Farmers are bringing cotton directly from their fields to the markets.Arrivals are expected to increase around Dussehra. Traders also start cotton factories on the occasion of Dussehra. 41 quintals of cotton arrived in Hanumangarh town on Friday and the average market price was Rs 6500 per quintal. 45 quintals of cotton arrived in Rawatsar and the average market price was Rs 6900 per quintal. 3 quintals of cotton arrived in Pilibanga and the average market price was Rs 6500 per quintal.Last year, due to low production, purchase could not be done at the support price. Officials are assessing the potential production, field staff has been deployed; a report on the potential cotton production is being prepared. Staff has been deployed for survey.read more:-  80% of cotton in Punjab sold below MSP